Hinge



C. STALLARD Den7 13, 1949 HINGE Filed Oct. 25, 1944 :in un Patented Dec. 13, 1949 U N ITED STATE j -FFICE Applicatonocto'bei' 26, 1944; SeralfNb."560,35

1 `Claim. (Cl. liti-144) This inventionv relates to." hinges, `and Emore particularly to a folding hinge adapted for use on a surveying instrument or the like. In handling instruments of this character, which are of considerable length, they are awkward to move from place to place, or to place in a car, truck or the like in extended position. Heretofore, telescoping surveying poles have been used but have been found unsatisfactory due to wear, causing them to become non-rigid and inaccurate. I have found that by providing a hinge for folding such instruments, these objections are overcome.

The principal objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide a hinge for use on a sectional surveying pole or the like so that the pole may be collapsed for easy handling; to provide a means for locking the hinge when the pole is in extended position; to provide a hinge for holding a pole in rigid position and which x will not become loose due to wear; and to provide a simple, economical and eilcient structure for the purpose set forth. l

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the hinge in extended locked position on a surveying pole.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge in folded position on a pole.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hinge in folded position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hinge in partly folded position particularly illustrating the locking means.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line 5 5, Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

Il designates a hinge embodying the features of my invention comprising substantially U-shaped channel members 2 and 3, pivotally connected at one end by a link 4, by rivets or the like 5 and 6.

The channel members 2 and 3 are so formed as to be fastened respectively to abutting ends 1 and 8 of a surveying pole or the like, by a plurality of screws or the like 9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, through suitable openings I in said members.

It will be noted that one side of the channel members 2 and 3 are cut away as indicated at II, Fig. 1, and the corner of such sides rounded as indicated at I2 and I3, Fig. 3, so that such corners will not bind or engage one another when folding the hinge. It will be noted also that there is a double hinge to the sections 2 and 3, in that the link 4 has two pivots through the rivets and 6. This construction is such as to enable the two sections 2 and 3 to fold relative to each other, and to assume a position as shown in.; Fig-. where one sectio'nilies along V- side' the other, and when the hinge is in extended position, the ends I4 and I5 will abut together.

Referring to the means for locking the hinge in extended position, I preferably provide guides I6 and I1, having their inner ends rounded to conform to the rounded corners I2 and I3, of the channel members 2 and 3, and fastened thereto by the rivets 5 and 6, and their outer ends secured to the channel members by rivets or the like I8 and I9 through suitable openings, in said members. The outer edges are bent transversely and inwardly to form channel ways 22 and 23 to provide a guideway for a bar 24 to lock the hinge in its extended position. The inwardly turned edges of the respective sides of the guides I6 and I1 are spaced apart to provide channelways 25 and 26 adapted to receive a stop 21 secured to the inner end of the locking bar 24. The inturned edges of the guide II are provided with inwardly extending ears 28 and 29, extending substantially across the channelway 26, providing a notch 30 adapted to receive a stop or the like 3I on the outer end of the locking bar 24 when the locking bar is in locking position, the inwardly extending ears 28 and 29 forming a stop for said locking bar.

The heads of the rivets 5 and 6 which extend into the locking bar guideway of the guides I6 and I'I, and the heads of the rivets I8 and I9 in said channelway, are countersunk so as to provide free passageway of the locking bar therethrough. The opposite heads of such rivets may also be countersunk if desired.

Operation of a device constructed and assembled as described is as follows:

When the hinge is securely fastened to the abutting ends of a surveying `pole by screws or the like as shown in Fig. l, and the pole extended longitudinally, the locking bar slides through the channelways 25 and 26, to rigidly lock the pole in such extended position for use. When it is desired to transport the pole from one place to another, or carry it in a suitable conveyance, the locking bar may be pulled outwardly from the channelways 25, and the pole folded downwardly as indicated in Fig. 2.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved form of hinge adapted for use in a construction as described which is simple, economical to manufacture, and operating in an eiicient manner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A device of the character described comprising, channel members having side flanges and a back portion, said channel members being adapted for abutting end-to-end relation, one of the sides of the abutting ends of the channel members being cut away and the mating ends of the back portion of the channel members being rounded, a link adapted to engage in the inside of the back of the channel members having its respective ends pivotally connected to the abutting ends of said channel members at their centrai longitudinal .axis whereby@ said f channel members may be folded so that they will lie in parallel side-by-side relation to each other, guide members in end-to-end abutting relation and having their ends rounded to mateftliej rounded corners of the channel members, said vbody por-Y tions of the guide members having'side edges turned inwardly to form anges spaced .from the` body portion to provide a trackway, the adjacent edges of said flanges being spaced, inwardlyl projecting ears on the flanges of one of the guide members to form stops, and a bar slida'ble in said trackways and having bosses on its respective ends adapted to engage the inwardly projecting ears on said flanges of said trackway to limit sliding movement of said bar to retain the bar in said guide.

CLEVELAND STALLARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 821,861 Croft May 29, 1906 1,138,846 Cook May 11, 1915 1,180,598 Mills Apr. 25, 1916 1,622,451 Kroschel Mar. 29, 1927 2,074,133 Rodin Mar. 16, 1937 2,332,404 Smith Oct. 19, 1943 

